Method and apparatus for impregnating leather



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' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING LEATHER Filed May 25, 193l 2Sheets-Sheet 1 louz'a dza Bots Bees,

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Feb. 25, 1936. 1.. DU B. REES 2,032,027

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING LEATHER loads 0&1 .5065 Fees,

stationary piston 2 is fixed by any suitable means Patented Feb. 25,1936 UNITED STATES METHOD AND APPARATUS F( )R IIVIPREG- NATING LEATHERLouis du Bois Rees, New York, N. Y., assignor to Hans Rees Sons, Inc.,New York, N.

Application May 25, 1931, Serial No. 539,888

10 Claims.

This invention relates to leather impregnation and more particularly toa novel method and apparatus for impregnating sheet leather with rubberor the like. The primary purpose of the invention is to provide a methodand apparatus for the impregnation of leather, and/or cured and preparedskins, with rubber and/or rubber compounds, and/0r synthetic rubber,'and the system is such that the rubber or the like may be forcedentirely through the sheet to be impregnated, or only partially throughthe same.

By impregnation is meant the filling in of the pores of the hide or skinand the coating of the fibers of the same with an impregnating materialhaving the characteristics of rubber.

Leather impregnated in accordance with the invention is especiallysuitable for shoe soles, power transmission belts or the like, due tothe vfact that the rubber adds elasticity, durability and tensilestrength and forms a non-skid surface which tends to adhere to thepulleys, thus preventing slipping of the belt and loss of power.

It also makes the leather water proof and acid resisting.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view whichwill appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in thenovel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in theacompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a diametrical vertical sectional view partly in elevation ofone form of an apparatus which I have devised for my purpose.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view partly broken away, of another form of theapparatus.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1, I designates abase plate to which a such as screws 3.

A cylinder 4 is adapted to reciprocate on the piston, and this cylinderis normally yieldingly held in elevated position by coil springs 5 whichsurround guide bolts 6 that are rigidly connected with andextend-upwardly from the base. Pockets I in the cylinder permit thelatter to reciprocate without interference by the heads 8 of the bolts,and to prevent the springs from forcing the cylinder up to'too great anextent, guide plates 9 are secured to the cylinder by any suitablemeans, such as screws l0, and abut against the bolt heads when thecylinder is in its uppermost position.

When the cylinder is in this position, the portion of the bore II abovethe top of the piston forms a basin for the reception of theimpregnating material l2. This may be any suitable fluid having thecharacteristics of rubber. For instance, it might be plastic rubber,plastic latex, plastic rubber compounds or plastic synthetic rubber. Inother words, it is a rubbery compound in such condition as to flow intothe leather when pressure is exerted on such compound. 5

It will be noted that an annular lip I3 surrounds the upper end of thebore II and is preferably tapered to form a relatively sharp edge. Whenthe parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, a sheet I4 of leather orskin, to be impregnated, is placed across the top of the bore and incontact with the edge of the lip I3, with the grain side of the sheetdownward. Then, a pad I5 of felt or the like may be superposed on theleather sheet, and afterwards, a metal plate I6 having suitable 15perforations I'I therein, is superposed on the felt pad. The parts I4,l5 and I6 are of-such dimensions as to extend entirely over the bore II,but in some instances it is unnecessary to use the pad I5. 20

Now the assembly may be placed in any suitable press. For example, thebase I may be placed on the stationary anvil I8 of a press, and theplunger I9 of the latter may be brought down wardly on to the perforatedplate I6. Then, as 25 the plunger is moved toward the anvil, thecylinder 4 will move downwardly and as the depth of the basin is therebydiminished, the impregnating plastic I2 is forced into the pores of thesheet I4. The degree of penetration will depend 30 upon the pressureexerted. It is preferred that the impregnating plastic be forced almostentirely, but not quite through the sheet I I, but if desired, it can beforced all the way through.

' During such operation, the air will be forced 35 from the pores of thesheet into the pad I5 and into the perforations I I, and as the parts I5and I6 are flat, there is no liability of the force being exerted to toogreat extent locally at any one point. and rupturing the sheet I4.

After the sheet has been impregnated to the desired degree, the plungerI9 is raised and then the springs 5 act to return the cylinder 4 to itsuppermost position. Now, the parts I6 and I5 can be removed, and thenthe sheet I4 can be de- 45 tached and the operation can be repeated onanother sheet.

It will be apparent that as the members I8 and I 9 move toward oneanother or one moves toward theother, the springs 5 in coming under com-50 pression, cause a greater force to be exerted-on the cylinder 4,which in turn causes the annular lip l3 to penetrate deeper .into thesheet I4, thereby creating aseal to prevent leakage as the pres sure onthe fluid I 2 is increased, dueto the action 55 of the piston 2.

Instead of using an apparatus involving a relatively movable cylinderand piston, I may employ a different form of apparatus which I havedevised and which is illustrated in Fig. 2. In

this embodiment, a box body 25 having a relatively thick bottom andthick walls forms a stationary basin 26 to receive the impregnatingfluid. A lid 21 is hinged at 28 to the top of the box and is adapted tobe securely fastened down by any suitable means such as bolts 29 whichpass through holes 30 in the top. Asthe body and lid are formed ofrelatively thick metal portions, it will be understood that they arecapable of withstanding extremely high pressures. The

mouth of thebasin 26 of this box is surrounded by a rectangular upwardlyextending tapered lip 3| over which the sheet 32 of leather or the likeis arranged. Here also a pad 33 of felt or the like may or may not beplaced on top of the sheet to be impregnated, and then a perforatedplate 34 is superposed on the pad. Afterwards, the lid is closed so asto firmly clamp the sheet 32 be- 1 tween the lip 31 and the pad 33, ifthe latter is employed. A

Now, the impregnating fluid may be introduced into the basin 26 underpressure created in any suitable way. For example, the impregnatingfluid may be forced under relatively high pres? sure through a pipe 35which receives the fluid from compressor 36 and discharges the same intothe basin 26.

The impregnating fluid forced in in this way will penetrate the sheet32, and this will cause the air discharged from the pores of the sheet32 to pass through the felt pad into the apertures of the plate 34, ordirectly into the apertures of the plate if the felt pad is notemployed.

While the method and apparatus are especially suitable for theimpregnation of leather with rubber compounds, it will be appreciatedthat they may be used for the impregnation of material other thanleather or skins, with other impregnating substances.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction, operation andadvantages of the invention may be readily understood by those skilledin the art, and it is manifest that changes may be made in the detailsdisclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, asexpressed in the claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:-- p

1. A method of impregnating a sheet of leather or skin with animpregnating fluid, comprising confining the fluid in a basin, arrangingthe sheet to be impregnated across the top of the basin,

exerting pressure upon the fluid in the basin to cause the same to moveupwardly and penetrate the pores of the sheet, and simultaneouslyexerting pressure on the sheet in the opposite direction.

2. A method of impregnating a sheet of leather or skin with a plasticrubber compound, com

' prising confining the compoundin a basin, ar-

ranging the sheet to be impregnated across the top of the basin, thenexerting pressure upon the compound in the basin, to cause the same tomove upwardly and penetrate the pores of the sheet, andholding the sheettaut while permitting ai to discharge upwardly from the same during suchimpregnation.

3. A method ofimpregnating a sheet of leather or skin with a plasticrubber compound, comprising conflning a mass of plastic rubber compoundin a basin, arranging the sheetto be impregnated across the mouth of thebasin, an

' the top of the basin,

' material with an then moving a wall of the basin relatively to thebottom thereof for compressing the compound and causing the same topenetrate the pores of the sheet. I

4. A method of impregnating a sheet of leather or skin with a plasticrubber compound, comprising confining a mass of plastic'rubber compoundin a basin, pregnated across the mouth of the basin, and then moving awall of the basin relatively to the bottom thereof for compressing thecompound and causing the same to penetrate the pores of the sheetwhileexerting pressure at all points on the sheet on the side oppositethat facing the I basin.

5. A method of impregnating a sheet of leather or skin with animpregnating fluid rubber compound, comprising confining the compound ina basin, placing the sheet to be impregnated across then exertingpressure upon. the compound in the basin'to cause the same to moveupwardly and penetrate the pores of the sheet, and preventing the sheetfrom rising during such penetration.-

6. A method of impregnating a sheet of porous material with animpregnating fluid, comprising confining the fluid in a basin, to beimpregnated across the top of the basin, then exerting pressure upon thefluid in the basin to cause the same to move upwardly and penetrate the'pores of the sheet, and holding the sheet taut during such penetration.

confining the fluid in a basin, arranging the sheet to be impregnatedacross the top of the basin, then exerting pressure upon the fluid inthe basin arranging the sheet to be imarranging the sheet impregnatingfluid, comprising to cause the same to move upwardly and penetrate thefibers of the sheet, and holding the sheet taut during such penetration.

8. The method of impregnating a material with a substance contained in ato prevent the material from being forced through the screen whilepermitting air and liquid to pass through the screen, and in forcingliquid containing an impregnating substance through the material at highpressure to deposit the substance upon and within the fibers of thematerial to be impregnated.

9. The method of impregnatinga material with a substance contained in aliquid which consists in supporting the material by a screened surfaceto prevent the material from being forced through the screen, whilepermitting air and liquid to pass through the screen and in forcingliquid containing an impregnating substance through the material at highpressure to deposit the substance upon and within the fibres of thematerial to be impregnated, while sealing the liquid against leakageabove the screen by sealing enliquid which consists w in supporting thematerial by a screened surface

